Dignity, Fairness and Respect in Disability Benefits

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 9 June 2016.

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Photo of Mark Griffin Mark Griffin Labour

I thank the minister. I am grateful for that support, and I know that disabled people throughout the country will be even more grateful.

That support will be needed to create the changes that we need, and the choice for the minister is clear. She can look to those who have overseen the precipitous decline of Government help, or to those who seek to raise the bar still further. She can look to those who have marginalised our most vulnerable people, or to those who seek to uplift them. She can look to those who restrict the support for those facing challenges, or to those who seek to enhance it.

That is because we in the labour movement have a long-standing belief that, when barriers block the path of one, that path is blocked for all of us—that when one person is left behind we cannot advance together.

If this Government decides to bring about meaningful change to build a system that will enhance the lives of our disabled citizens, a system that ensures that our carers are provided the support they deserve, and a system that reflects the language in today’s motion of dignity, fairness and respect, the minister will have our support and that of the labour movement.

I say to colleagues across the chamber that the future of social security in this country requires us to work together, not with our eyes clouded by political grievance but with our focus firmly fixed on the expectation of a nation: an expectation that reflects a society that we want to see, based on dignity, fairness and respect.

There are times in this country when we as individuals go about our own business, enjoying the opportunities that we have been blessed with. There are times when, as political parties and activists, we campaign tirelessly on the issues we hold close to our hearts. Then there are times when we must come together, inspired by the dignity of the individual and united by a collective impulse to build and shape a shared future. We in the labour movement believe that this is one of those times.

I move amendment S5M-00374.3, after first “disability benefits” to insert:

“are increased at least in line with inflation to ensure that they cover the cost of living,”.